Lens moving apparatus

ABSTRACT

A lens moving apparatus can include a housing; a base disposed below the housing; a bobbin disposed inside the housing and configured to move in a first direction along or parallel with an optical axis within the housing; driving magnets disposed on the housing; a coil provided at an outer surface of the bobbin; an elastic member coupled to the bobbin and supporting the bobbin; a sensing magnet coupled to the bobbin; and a position sensor coupled to a printed circuit board, wherein the position sensor is configured to sense a displacement of the sensing magnet in the first direction, in which the bobbin includes a reception recess formed on the outer surface of the bobbin such that at least a part of the reception recess is located at an inside of the coil, the sensing magnet is disposed in the reception recess, and the position sensor is disposed on another side of the housing than sides on which the driving magnets are disposed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/795,989 filed on Feb. 20, 2020, which is a Continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/937,330 filed on Mar. 27, 2018, (now U.S.Pat. No. 10,606,025 issued on Mar. 31, 2020), which is a Continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/630,637 filed on Jun. 22, 2017 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,958,634 issued on May 1, 2018), which is a Continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/578,711 filed on Dec. 22, 2014(now U.S. Pat. No. 9,690,070 issued on Jun. 27, 2017), which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Application No.10-2013-0160980, filed in the Republic of Korea on Dec. 23, 2013, andNo. 10-2014-0055364, filed in the Republic of Korea on May 9, 2014, allof which are here by expressly incorporated by reference into thepresent application.

BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments relate to a lens moving apparatus, and more particularly, toa lens moving apparatus which improves space efficiency of a bobbin andperforms feedback of the displacement of a lens in the optical axisdirection to shorten a focus alignment time of the lens.

Recently, development of IT products, such as cellular phones,smartphones, tablet PCs, notebooks, etc., having micro digital camerasinstalled therein, is underway.

In an IT product having a conventional micro digital camera installedtherein, a lens moving apparatus aligning the focal distance of a lensby adjusting an interval between an image sensor converting externallight into a digital image or a digital moving picture and the lens isprovided.

However, in order to perform an auto-focusing function, the conventionalmicro digital camera requires a long auto-focusing time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus which may shorten anauto-focusing time of a lens.

Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus which may more accuratelyand rapidly locate a lens at a focal distance of the lens.

Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus which may improve anauto-focusing function and have enhanced space efficiency anddurability.

In one embodiment, a lens moving apparatus includes a housing supportingdriving magnets, a bobbin including a coil disposed on the outer surfacethereof inside the driving magnets, and moving in a first directionparallel with an optical axis within the housing by electromagneticinteraction between the driving magnets and the coil, and a sensing unitsensing a movement of the bobbin in the first direction.

In another embodiment, a lens moving apparatus includes a housingsupporting driving magnets, a bobbin including a coil disposed on theouter surface thereof inside the driving magnets, and moving in a firstdirection parallel with an optical axis within the housing byelectromagnetic interaction between the driving magnets and the coil,and magnetic bodies provided between the driving magnets and the coil soas to be mounted on the driving magnets and to surface-contact the coil.

In yet another embodiment, a lens moving apparatus includes a housingsupporting driving magnets, a bobbin including a coil disposed on theouter surface thereof inside the driving magnets, and moving in a firstdirection parallel with an optical axis within the housing byelectromagnetic interaction between the driving magnets and the coil,magnetic bodies provided between the driving magnets and the coil so asto be mounted on the driving magnets and to surface-contact the coil,and a sensing unit sensing a movement of the bobbin in the firstdirection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with referenceto the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a lens moving apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the lens movingapparatus in accordance with the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the lens moving apparatus ofFIG. 1 , from which a cover member is removed;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a housing in accordance withthe embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the housing, as seen from anangle differing from the angle of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective bottom view of the housing inaccordance with the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the housing inaccordance with the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of an upper elastic member in accordancewith the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a lower elastic member in accordancewith the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a bobbin in accordance withthe embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective bottom view of the bobbin inaccordance with the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the bobbin inaccordance with the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged bottom view of FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a reception recessin accordance with the embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a schematic longitudinal-sectional view of the bobbin inaccordance with the embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a position sensor in a mounted state inaccordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating magnetic bodies in a mounted state inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a schematic side view of a lens moving apparatus inaccordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the lens moving apparatus in accordancewith the embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the lens moving apparatus of FIG. 20 ,from which a yoke unit is removed;

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the lens moving apparatus inaccordance with the embodiment; and

FIG. 24 is a view illustrating a cover member in accordance with theembodiment, as seen from the bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the annexeddrawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted bythe same reference numerals even though they are depicted in differentdrawings. In the following description, a detailed description of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when itmay make the subject matter of the disclosure rather unclear. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that some features in the drawingsare exaggerated, reduced, or simplified for ease in description, anddrawings and elements thereof are not shown always at the proper rate.

For reference, in the respective drawings, a rectangular coordinatesystem (x, y, z) may be used. In the drawings, the x-axis and the y-axismean a plane perpendicular to an optical axis and, for convenience, anoptical axis (z-axis) direction may be referred to as a first direction,an x-axis direction may be referred to as a second direction, and ay-axis direction may be referred to as a third direction.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a lens moving apparatus 100 inaccordance with one embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic explodedperspective view of the lens moving apparatus 100 in accordance with theembodiment, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the lens movingapparatus 100 of FIG. 1 , from which a cover member 300 is removed, FIG.4 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 3 , FIG. 5 is a schematic perspectiveview of a housing 140 in accordance with the embodiment, FIG. 6 is aschematic perspective view of the housing 140, as seen from an anglediffering from the angle of FIG. 5 , FIG. 7 is a schematic perspectivebottom view of the housing 140 in accordance with the embodiment, FIG. 8is a schematic exploded perspective view of the housing 140 inaccordance with the embodiment, FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of anupper elastic member 150 in accordance with the embodiment, and FIG. 10is a schematic plan view of a lower elastic member 160 in accordancewith the embodiment.

The lens moving apparatus 100 in accordance with this embodiment is anapparatus which locates an image sensor at the focal distance of a lensby adjusting a distance between the lens and the image sensor in acamera module. That is, the lens moving apparatus 100 is an apparatusperforming an auto-focusing function.

As exemplarily shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the lens moving apparatus 100 inaccordance with this embodiment may include a cover member 300, an upperelastic member 150, a bobbin 110, a coil 120 provided on the bobbin 110,a housing 140, driving magnets 130 and a printed circuit board 170provided on the housing 140, a lower elastic member 160, a base 210, asensing unit sensing a movement of the bobbin 110 in the optical axisdirection (i.e., the first direction), and magnetic bodies 500 mountedon the driving magnets 130.

The cover member 300 may have a box shape and be combined with the upperportion of the base 210. In a reception space formed by the cover member300 and the base 210, the upper elastic member 150, the bobbin 110, thecoil 120 provided on the bobbin 110, the housing 140, and the drivingmagnets 130 and the printed circuit board 170 provided on the housing140 may be received.

The cover member 300 may be provided with an opening formed on the uppersurface thereof to expose a lens combined with the bobbin 110 toexternal light. Further, a window formed of a light transmittingmaterial may be provided on the opening. The window may prevent foreignsubstances, such as dust or moisture, from being introduced into acamera module.

The cover member 300 may include first grooves 310 formed at the lowerportion thereof. Although this will be described later, the base 210 mayinclude second grooves 211 at regions contacting the first grooves 310(i.e., a positions corresponding to the first grooves 310) when thecover member 300 and the base 210 are combined. When the cover member300 and the base 210 are combined, recesses having a designated area maybe formed through combination of the first grooves 310 and the secondgrooves 211. An adhesive member having viscosity may be applied to therecesses. That is, the adhesive member applied to the recesses fillsgaps between opposite surfaces of the cover member 300 and the base 210through the recesses and may seal a space between the cover member 300and the base 210 and close the side surfaces of the cover member 300 andthe base 210 when the cover 300 and the base 210 are combined.

Further, a third groove 320 may be formed on a surface of the covermember 300 corresponding to a terminal surface of the printed circuitboard 170 so as to prevent interference between the cover member 300 anda plurality of terminals formed on the terminal surface. The thirdgroove 320 may be formed on the entirety of the surface of the covermember 300 opposite the terminal surface, and the adhesive member may beapplied to the inside of the third groove 320 to seal the cover member300, the base 210, and the printed circuit board 170 and to close theside surfaces of the cover member 300 and the base 210 when the cover300 and the base 210 are combined.

Although the first grooves 310, the second grooves 211, and the thirdgroove 310 are formed on the cover member 300 and the base 210, thedisclosure is not limited thereto but the first grooves 310, the secondgrooves 211, and the third groove 310 having similar shapes to the aboveshapes may be formed on the base 210 only or formed on the cover member300 only.

The base 210 may be formed in a rectangular shape and be combined withthe cover member 300 to form the reception space for the bobbin 110 andthe housing 140.

A stepped part protruding to a designated thickness in the outwarddirection may be provided so as to surround the lower edge of the base210. The designated thickness of the stepped part is the same as thethickness of the side surface of the cover member 300 and, when thecover member 300 is combined with the base 210, the side surface of thecover member 300 may be loaded on, contact, be disposed on, or becombined with the upper surface or side surface of the stepped part.Thereby, the base 210 may guide the cover member 300 combined with theupper portion of the stepped part, and the end of the cover member 300may be in surface-contact with the stepped part and include the lowersurface or the side surface. The stepped part and the end of the covermember 300 may be fixed to each other and sealed by an adhesive agent,etc.

The second grooves 211 may be formed on the stepped part at positionscorresponding to the first grooves 310 of the cover member 300. Asdescribed above, the second grooves 211 may be combined with the firstgrooves 310 of the cover member 300 and thus form the recesses, i.e.,spaces filled with the adhesive member.

The base 210 may include an opening formed at the central regionthereof. The opening may be formed at a position corresponding to theposition of the image sensor disposed on the camera module.

Further, the base 210 may include four guide members 216 protrudingperpendicularly from four corners to a designated height in the upwarddirection. The guide members 216 may have a polyprism shape. The guidemembers 216 may be inserted into, fastened to, or combined with lowerguide grooves 148 of the housing 140 which will be described later. Dueto the guide members 216 and the lower guide grooves 148, when thehousing 140 is loaded or disposed on the base 210, the combined positionof the housing 140 on the base 210 may be guided and separation of thehousing 140 from a reference position where the housing 140 needs to bemounted, caused by vibration during the operating process of the lensmoving apparatus 100 or worker's mistake during the combination process,may be prevented.

As exemplarily shown in FIGS. 4 to 9 , the housing 140 may have a columnshape with a hollow formed therein (for example, a rectangular prismshape with a hollow). The housing 140 may be configured so as to supportat least two driving magnets 130 and the printed circuit board 170 andreceive the bobbin 110 such that the bobbin 110 in the housing 140 maymove in the first direction against the housing 140.

The housing 140 may include four flat side surfaces 141. The sidesurfaces 141 of the housing 140 may have an area which is equal to orgreater than the area of the driving magnets 130.

As exemplarily shown in FIG. 9 , a magnet through hole 141 a or recessin which the driving magnet 130 is loaded or disposed may be provided oneach of two side surfaces opposite each other, among the four sidesurfaces 141 of the housing 140. The magnet through holes 141 a orrecesses may have a size and a shape corresponding to those of thedriving magnets 130 or have a shape to guide the driving magnets 130. Afirst driving magnet 131 and a second driving magnet 132, i.e., twodriving magnets 130, may be mounted on the magnet through holes 141 a.

Further, a sensor through hole 141 b into, in, to, or on which aposition sensor 180, which will be described later, is inserted,disposed, fixed, or loaded may be provided on one side surface 141perpendicular to the two side surfaces 141 or other side surfaces 141than the two side surfaces 141, among the four side surfaces 141 of thehousing 140. The sensor through hole 141 b may have a size and a shapecorresponding to those of the position sensor 180, which will bedescribed later. Further, at least one mounting protrusion 149 formounting, disposition, temporary fixing, or fixing of the printedcircuit board 170 may be provided on the side surface 141. The mountingprotrusion 149 may be inserted into a mounting through hole 173 formedon the printed circuit board 170, which will be described later. Here,the mounting through hole 173 and the mounting protrusion 149 may becombined with each other by a shape fitting method or an interferencefitting method. However, the mounting through hole 173 and the mountingprotrusion 149 may have a simple guide function.

Among the four side surfaces 141 of the housing 140, the other sidesurface 141 opposite to the above side surface 141 may be a flat surfacebut is not limited thereto.

In accordance with another embodiment, first and second magnet throughholes 141 a and 141 a′ on or to which the driving magnets 130 arelocated, disposed, or fixed may be provided on two side surfacesopposite each other, among the four side surfaces 141 of the housing140. Further, a third magnet through hole and a sensor through hole 141b separated from the third magnet through hole by a designated distancemay be provided on one side surface 141 perpendicular to the two sidesurfaces 141 or other side surfaces 141 than the two side surfaces 141,among the four side surfaces 141 of the housing 140. Moreover, a fourthmagnet through hole may be provided on the other side surface 141opposite to the side surface 141 among the four side surfaces 141 of thehousing 140.

That is, four magnet through holes and one sensor through hole 141 b maybe provided on the four side surfaces 141 of the housing 140.

The first magnet through hole 141 a and the second magnet through hole141 a′ have the same size and the same shape, and have a length in thesideward direction which is (almost) the same as the length of the sidesurfaces 141 of the housing 140 in the sideward direction. On the otherhand, the third magnet through hole and the fourth magnet through holehave the same size and the same shape, and may have a length in thesideward direction which is smaller than that of the first magnetthrough hole 141 a and the second magnet through hole 141 a′. Since thesensor through hole 141 b is formed on the side surface on which thethird magnet through hole is formed, such a structure serves to secure aspace for the sensor through hole 141 b.

Of course, the first driving magnet 131 to the fourth driving magnet maybe located on, disposed in, or fixed to the first magnet through hole tothe fourth magnet through hole. In the same manner, the first drivingmagnet 131 and the second driving magnet 132 have the same size and thesame shape, and have a length in the sideward direction which is(almost) the same as the length of the side surfaces 141 of the housing140 in the sideward direction. Further, the third driving magnet and thefourth driving magnet have the same size and the same shape, and mayhave a length in the sideward direction which is smaller than that ofthe first driving magnet 131 and the second driving magnet 132.

The third magnet through hole and the fourth magnet through hole may besymmetrically disposed on a straight line with respect to the center ofthe housing 140. That is, the third driving magnet 130 and the fourthdriving magnet may be symmetrically disposed on a straight line withrespect to the center of the housing 140. If the third driving magnet130 and the fourth driving magnet 140 opposite to each other aredisposed eccentrically at one side regardless of the center of thehousing 140, electromagnetic force applied to the coil 120 of the bobbin110 is biased to the side and thus, the bobbin 110 may be tilted. Thatis, by symmetrically disposing the third driving magnet 130 and thefourth driving magnet on a straight line with respect to the center ofthe housing 140, electromagnetic force which is not eccentric may beapplied to the bobbin 110 and the coil 1120 and thus, movement of thebobbin 110 in the first direction may be easily and accurately guided.

Further, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and FIG. 8 , a pluralityof first stoppers 143 may protrude from the upper surface of the housing140. The first stoppers 143 serve to prevent collision between the covermember 300 and the body of the housing 140, and prevent the uppersurface of the housing 140 from colliding directly with the upper innersurface of the cover member 300 when external impact is applied.Further, the first stoppers 143 may serve to guide the installedposition of the upper elastic member 150. For this purpose, asexemplarily shown in FIG. 9 , guide grooves 155 having a shapecorresponding to the first stoppers 143 may be formed at positions ofthe upper elastic member 150 corresponding to the first stoppers 143.

Further, a plurality of upper frame support protrusions 144 with whichan outer frame 152 of the upper elastic member 150 is combined mayprotrude from the upper surface of the housing 140. Although this willbe described later, first through holes 152 a or recesses having a shapecorresponding to the upper frame support protrusions 144 may be formedat positions of the outer frame 152 of the upper elastic member 150corresponding to the upper frame support protrusions 144. The upperframe support protrusions 144 may be fixed to the first through holes152 a using an adhesive agent or by fusion and fusion may includethermal fusion or ultrasonic fusion.

Further, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 7 , a plurality of lower framesupport protrusions 147 with which an outer frame 162 of the lowerelastic member 160 is combined may protrude from the lower surface ofthe housing 140. Insertion recesses 162 a or holes having a shapecorresponding to the lower frame support protrusions 147 may be formedat positions of the outer frame 162 of the lower elastic member 160corresponding to the lower frame support protrusions 147. The lowerframe support protrusions 147 may be fixed to the insertion recesses 162a using an adhesive agent or by fusion and fusion may include thermalfusion or ultrasonic fusion.

The driving magnets 130 may be fixed to the magnet through holes 141 ausing an adhesive agent, without being limited thereto. That is, thedriving magnets 130 may be fixed to the magnet through holes 141 a usingadhesive members, such as a double-sided tape. Further, in accordancewith a modified embodiment, in place of the magnet through holes 141 a,recess-shaped magnet loading parts may be formed on the inner surface ofthe housing 140 and the magnet loading parts may have a size and a shapecorresponding to the size and the shape of the driving magnets 130.

The driving magnets 130 may be installed at positions corresponding tothe coil 120 provided on the bobbin 110. Further, the driving magnet 130may be formed in one body. In this embodiment, the driving magnet 130may be configured such that the north (N) pole is formed on the surfaceof the driving magnet 130 opposite the coil 120 of the bobbin 110 andthe south (S) pole is formed on the other surface of the driving magnet130. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the drivingmagnet 130 may be configured such that the N pole and the S pole arereversed. Further, the driving magnet 130 may be split into two sectionsalong the plane vertical to the optical axis.

The driving magnet 130 may have a rectangular parallelepiped structurehaving a designated width and be loaded in the magnet through hole 141 aor recess so that the wide surface of the driving magnet 130 may form apart of the side surface 141 of the housing 140. Here, the oppositedriving magnets 130 may be installed in parallel. Further, the drivingmagnets 130 may be disposed opposite the coil 120 of the bobbin 110. Theopposite surfaces of the driving magnet 130 and the coil 120 of thebobbin 110 may be disposed in parallel, without being limited thereto.That is, according to design, only one of the opposite surfaces of thedriving magnet 130 and the coil 120 of the bobbin 110 may be a flatsurface and the other may be a curved surface. Otherwise, both of theopposite surfaces of the driving magnet 130 and the coil 120 of thebobbin 110 may be curved surfaces and, in this case, the oppositesurfaces of the driving magnet 130 and the coil 120 of the bobbin 110may have the same curvature.

As described above, the sensor through hole 141 b or recess is providedon one side surface 141 of the housing 140, and the position sensor 180is inserted into, disposed in, or loaded in the sensor through hole 141b and electrically connected to one surface of the printed circuit board170 by soldering. That is, the printed circuit board 170 may be fixedto, supported by, or disposed on the outer surface of one side surface141 with the sensor through hole 141 b or recess among the four sidesurfaces 141 of the housing 140.

The position sensor 180 and a sensing magnet 190 of the bobbin 110,which will be described later, may form a sensing unit to judge a firstdisplacement value of the bobbin 110 in the first direction. For thispurpose, the position sensor and the sensor through hole 141 b or recessmay be disposed at a position corresponding to the position of thesensing magnet 190.

The position sensor 180 may be a sensor sensing change of magnetic forceemitted from the sensing magnet 190 of the bobbin 110. Further, theposition sensor 180 may be a Hall sensor. However, the position sensor180 is not limited thereto and any sensor which may sense change ofmagnetic force or any sensor which may sense a position instead ofmagnetic force, for example, a photoreflector, may be used.

The printed circuit board 170 is combined with or disposed on one sidesurface 141 of the housing 140 and may include the mounting through hole173 or recess, as described above. Thus, the installed position of theprinted circuit board 170 may be guided by the mounting protrusion 149provided on the side surface 141 of the housing 140.

Further, a plurality of terminals 171 is disposed on the printed circuitboard 170. The terminals 171 may receive external power and supplycurrent to the coil 120 of the bobbin 110 and the position sensor 180.The number of the terminals 171 formed on the printed circuit board 170may be increased or decreased according to kinds of components whichneed to be controlled. In accordance with this embodiment, the printedcircuit board 170 may be an FPCB.

The printed circuit board 170 may include a controller readjusting theamount of current applied to the coil 120 based on the firstdisplacement value sensed by the sensing unit. The controller is mountedon the printed circuit board 170. Further, in accordance with anotherembodiment, a controller is not mounted on the printed circuit board 170and may be mounted on another substrate and such a substrate may be asubstrate on which the image sensor of the camera module is mounted oranother separate substrate.

Calibration of an actuator driving distance may be additionally carriedout based on a Hall voltage difference to change of a magnetic fluxdensity detected by the Hall sensor.

The bobbin 110 may be configured so as to reciprocate in the first axisdirection with respect to the housing 140 fixed in the first axisdirection. An auto-focusing function may be executed by movement of thebobbin 110 in the first axis direction.

The bobbin 110 will be described in more detail later with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

The upper elastic member 150 and the lower elastic member 160 mayelastically support the ascending and/or descending operation of thebobbin 110 in the optical axis direction. Plate springs may be used asthe upper elastic member 150 and the lower elastic member 160.

As exemplarily shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 9 and 10 , the upperelastic member 150 and the lower elastic member 160 may include innerframes 151 and 161 combined with the bobbin 110, outer frames 152 and162 combined with the housing 140, and connection parts 153 and 163connecting the inner frames 151 and 161 and the outer frames 152 and162.

The connection parts 153 and 163 may be bent at least one time and forma pattern with a designated shape. The ascending and/or descendingoperation of the bobbin 110 in the optical axis direction, i.e., thefirst direction, may be elastically (flexibly) supported throughposition change and fine deformation of the connection parts 153 and163.

In accordance with this embodiment, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 9 , theupper elastic member 150 may include a plurality of first through holes152 a formed on the outer frame 152 and a plurality of second throughholes 151 a formed on the inner frame 151.

The first through holes 152 a may be combined with the upper framesupport protrusions 144 provided on the upper surface of the housing140, and the second through holes 151 a or recesses may be combined withupper support protrusions 113 provided on the upper surface of thebobbin 110, which will be described later. That is, the outer frame 152may be fixed to and combined with the housing 140 through the firstthrough hole 152 a and the inner frame 151 may be fixed to and combinedwith the bobbin 110 through the second through holes 151 a or recesses.

The connection parts 153 may connect the inner frame 151 and the outerframe 152 so that the inner frame 151 may be elastically deformed withina designated range in the first direction with respect to the outerframe 152.

At least one of the inner frame 151 and the outer frame 152 of the upperelastic member 150 may include at least one terminal part elasticallyconnected to at least one of the coil 120 of the bobbin 110 and theprinted circuit board 170.

As exemplarily shown in FIG. 10 , the lower elastic member 160 mayinclude a plurality of insertion recesses 162 a or holes formed on theouter frame 162 and a plurality of third through holes 161 a or recessesformed on the inner frame 161.

The insertion recesses 162 a or holes may be combined with the lowerframe support protrusions 147 provided on the lower surface of thehousing 140, and the third through holes 161 a or recesses may becombined with lower support protrusions 114 provided on the lowersurface of the bobbin 110, which will be described later. That is, theouter frame 162 may be fixed to and combined with the housing 140through the insertion recesses 162 a or holes and the inner frame 161may be fixed to and combined with the bobbin 110 through the thirdthrough holes 161 a or recesses.

The connection parts 163 may connect the inner frame 161 and the outerframe 162 so that the inner frame 161 may be elastically deformed withina designated range in the first direction with respect to the outerframe 162.

The lower elastic member 160 may include a first lower elastic member160 a and a second lower elastic member 160 b separated from each other,as exemplarily shown in FIG. 10 . Through such a two-split structure,the first lower elastic member 160 a and the second lower elastic member160 b of the lower elastic member 160 may receive power having differentpolarities or different powers. That is, after the inner frame 161 andthe outer frame 162 are combined with the bobbin 110 and the housing140, solder parts may be provided at positions of the inner frame 161corresponding to both ends of the coil 120 disposed on the bobbin 110and conductive connection, such as soldering, is performed at the solderparts and thus, the first lower elastic member 160 a and the secondlower elastic member 160 b may receive power having different polaritiesor different powers. Further, the first lower elastic member 160 a iselectrically connected to one of both ends of the coil 120 and thesecond lower elastic member 160 b is electrically connected to the otherand thus, the first lower elastic member 160 a and the second lowerelastic member 160 b may receive current and/or voltage supplied fromthe outside.

The upper elastic member 150, the lower elastic member 160, the bobbin110, and the housing 140 may be assembled by bonding using thermalfusion and/or an adhesive agent. Here, based on an assembly sequence,fixing using thermal fusion may be carried out and then, fixing may befinished through bonding using an adhesive agent.

In accordance with a modified embodiment, the upper elastic member 150may have a two-split structure and the lower elastic member 160 may havean integrated structure.

At least one of the inner frame 161 and the outer frame 162 of the lowerelastic member 160 may include at least one terminal part electricallyconnected to at least one of the coil 120 of the bobbin 110 and theprinted circuit board 170.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the bobbin 110 in accordancewith the embodiment, FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective bottom view ofthe bobbin 110 in accordance with the embodiment, FIG. 13 is a schematicexploded perspective view of the bobbin 110 in accordance with theembodiment, FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 13, FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged bottom view of FIG. 13 , FIG. 16 is apartially enlarged perspective view of a reception recess 117 inaccordance with the embodiment, and FIG. 17 is a schematiclongitudinal-sectional view of the bobbin 110 in accordance with theembodiment.

As exemplarily shown in FIGS. 11 to 17 , the bobbin 110 may be installedso as to reciprocate in the optical axis direction in the inner space ofthe housing 140. The coil 120, which will be described later, isinstalled on the outer surface of the bobbin 110. The coil 120 mayelectromagnetically interact with the driving magnets 130 of the housing140 and thus, the bobbin 110 may reciprocate in the first direction dueto electromagnetic interaction between the coil 120 and the drivingmagnets 130. Further, the bobbin 110 may be elastically (flexibly)supported by the upper elastic member 150 and the lower elastic member160 and move in the optical axis direction, i.e., in the firstdirection, thus performing an auto-focusing function.

The bobbin 110 may include a lens barrel (not shown) in which at leastone lens is installed, and the lens barrel is an element of the cameramodule, which will be described later, but is not essential to the lensmoving apparatus. The lens barrel may be combined with the inside of thebobbin 110 through various methods. For example, a female screw threadmay be formed on the inner surface of the bobbin 110, a male screwthread may be formed on the outer surface of the lens barrel, and thelens barrel may be combined with the bobbin 110 through screwcombination between the female screw thread and the male screw thread.However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the lens barrel maybe fixed directly to the inside of the bobbin 110 through other methodsexcept for the screw combination method without a screw thread formed onthe inner surface of the bobbin 110. Otherwise, one or more lenses maybe formed integrally with the bobbin 110 without a lens barrel. One lensmay be combined with the lens barrel or two or more lens combined withthe lens barrel may form an optical system.

Further, a plurality of upper support protrusions 113 and a plurality oflower support protrusions 114 may protrude from the upper surface andthe lower surface of the bobbin 110.

The upper support protrusions 113 may have a cylindrical shape or aprism shape, and combine and fix the inner frame 151 of the upperelastic member 150 with and to the bobbin 110, as exemplarily shown inFIG. 11 . In accordance with this embodiment, the second through holes151 a or recesses may be formed at positions of the inner frame 151 ofthe upper elastic member 150 corresponding to the upper supportprotrusions 113. The upper support protrusions 113 and the secondthrough holes 151 a or recesses may be fixed through thermal fusion orusing an adhesive member, such as epoxy. Further, the upper supportprotrusions 113 may be provided in plural. A separation distance betweenthe upper support protrusions 113 may be properly adjusted within arange of avoiding interference with peripheral parts. That is, the uppersupport protrusions 113 may be disposed at regular intervalssymmetrically with respect to the center of the bobbin 110, or the uppersupport protrusions 113 may be disposed at irregular intervalssymmetrically with respect to a specific virtual line passing throughthe center of the bobbin 110.

The lower support protrusions 114 may have a cylindrical shape or aprism shape, in the same manner as the above-described upper supportprotrusions 113, and combine and fix the inner frame 161 of the lowerelastic member 160 with and to the bobbin 110, as exemplarily shown inFIG. 12 . In accordance with this embodiment, the third through holes161 a or recesses may be formed at positions of the inner frame 161 ofthe lower elastic member 160 corresponding to the lower supportprotrusions 114. The lower support protrusions 114 and the third throughholes 161 a or recesses may be fixed through thermal fusion or using anadhesive member, such as epoxy. Further, the lower support protrusions114 may be provided in plural, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 12 . Aseparation distance between the lower support protrusions 114 may beproperly adjusted within a range of avoiding interference withperipheral parts. That is, the lower support protrusions 114 may bedisposed at regular intervals symmetrically with respect to the centerof the bobbin 110.

Upper escape recesses 112 and lower escape recesses 118 are formed atpositions of the upper surface and the lower surface of the bobbin 110corresponding to the connection parts 153 of the upper elastic member150 and the connection parts 163 of the lower elastic member 160.

The upper escape recesses 112 and the lower escape recesses 118 removespatial interference between the connection parts 153 and 163 and thebobbin 110 when the bobbin 110 moves in the first direction with respectto the housing 140, thus facilitating elastic deformation of theconnection parts 153 and 163. Further, although this embodimentdescribes the upper escape recesses 112 as being disposed at the cornersof the housing 140, the upper escape recesses 112 may be disposed on theside surfaces 141 of the housing 140 according to shapes and/orpositions of the connection parts 153 of the upper elastic member 150.

Further, a coil loading groove 116 in which the coil 120 is installedmay be provided on the outer surface of the bobbin 110, or only aloading part may be provided.

The coil 120 may be provided as a ring-shaped coil block inserted intoor combined with the outer surface of the bobbin 110, the coil loadinggroove 116, or the loading part, but is not limited thereto. The coil120 may be wound directly on the outer surface of the bobbin 110, thecoil loading groove 116, or the loading part.

In accordance with this embodiment, the coil 120 may be formed in anapproximately octagonal shape, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 13 . Such ashape corresponds to the shape of the outer surface of the bobbin 110,and the bobbin 110 may be formed also in an octagonal shape. Further, atleast four surfaces of the coil 120 may be flat surfaces and cornerparts of the coil 120 interconnecting the surfaces may be roundedsurfaces or flat surfaces. The flat surfaces may be surfacescorresponding to the driving magnets 130. Further, the surfaces of thedriving magnets 130 corresponding to the coil 120 may have the samecurvature as the curvature of the coil 120. That is, if the surfaces ofthe coil 120 are flat surfaces, the corresponding surfaces of thedriving magnets 130 may be flat surfaces and, if the surfaces of thecoil 120 are curved surfaces, the corresponding surfaces of the drivingmagnets 130 may be curved surfaces and have the same curvature as thecurvature of the surfaces of the coil 120. Further, even if the surfacesof the coil 120 are curved surfaces, the corresponding surfaces of thedriving magnets 130 may be flat surfaces, or vice versa.

The coil 120 serves to move the bobbin 110 in the optical axis directionto perform an auto-focusing function. When current is supplied, the coil120 may generate electromagnetic force through electromagneticinteraction with the driving magnets 130 and then move the bobbin 120through the generated electromagnetic force.

The coil 120 may correspond to the driving magnets 130. As exemplarilyshown in the drawings, if the driving magnet 130 is formed to have anintegral body and the entire surface of the driving magnet 130 oppositethe coil 120 has the same polarity, the surface of the coil 120corresponding to the driving magnet 130 may have the same polarity.Although not shown in the drawings, if the driving magnet 130 is splitinto two sections along a surface vertical to the optical axis so thatthe surface of the driving magnet 130 opposite the coil 120 is dividedinto two or more sections, the coil 120 may be divided also intosections corresponding in number to the divided sections of the drivingmagnet 130.

The bobbin 110 may include the sensing magnet 190 which, together withthe position sensor 180 of the housing 140, forms the sensing unit. Thesensing magnet 190 may be fixed to, disposed on, or combined with thebobbin 110. Thereby, when the bobbin 110 moves in the first direction,the sensing magnet 190 may move in the first direction by the samedisplacement as the bobbin 110. Further, the sensing magnet 190 may beformed in one body and disposed such that the upper portion of thebobbin 110 becomes the N pole and the lower portion of the bobbin 110becomes the S pole. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto andvice versa. Further, the sensing magnet 190 may be split into twosections along a plane vertical to the optical axis.

The sensing magnet 190 may be formed in a size which does not influencethe magnetic flux density of the driving magnets 130 corresponding toelectromagnetic force driving the coil 120 so as not to influence thefunctions of the bobbin 110 and the coil 120. Therefore, the sensingmagnet 190 may be a magnet for Hall sensors or a subsidiary magnethaving a smaller size than the driving magnets 130. Such a size of thesensing magnet 190 may be ⅕ the size of the driving magnets 130.However, since the sensing magnet 190 may be formed in a size which doesnot influence magnetic force of the driving magnets 130, the sensingmagnet 190 may be formed in a size less than or more than ⅕ the size ofthe driving magnets 130.

As exemplarily shown in FIGS. 13 to 17 , the bobbin 110 may have areception recess 117 formed on the outer surface of the bobbin 110 so asto receive the sensing magnet 190.

The reception recess 117 may be formed on the outer surface of thebobbin 110 to a designated depth in the inward direction of the bobbin110.

In more detail, the reception recess 117 may be formed on one sidesurface of the bobbin 110 such that at least a part of the receptionrecess 117 is located at the inside of the coil 120. Further, at least apart of the reception recess 117 may be depressed more than the coilloading groove 116 to a designated depth in the inward direction of thebobbin 110. By forming the reception recess 117 in the inward directionof the bobbin 110, the sensing magnet 190 may be received in the bobbin110 and thus, a separate space for installation of the sensing magnet190 is not required and space utilization of the bobbin 110 may beimproved.

Particularly, the reception recess 117 may be disposed at a positioncorresponding to the position sensor 180 of the housing 140 (or aposition opposite the position sensor 180). Thereby, a distance betweenthe sensing magnet 190 and the position sensor 180 includes thethickness of the coil 120 and/or a separation distance between the coil120 and the position sensor 180 and may thus be minimized and thus,accuracy in sensing of magnetic force by the position sensor 180 may beimproved.

The reception recess 117 may include an opening 119 formed on one of theupper surface and the lower surface of the bobbin 110 and communicatingwith the reception recess 117. For example, as exemplarily shown in FIG.17 , a part of the lower surface of the bobbin 110 may be opened andform the opening 119 and the opening 119 may form the inlet of thereception recess 117. The sensing magnet 190 may be inserted into,disposed in, or fixed to the reception recess 117 through the opening119, and be separated from the reception recess 117 through the opening119.

In more detail, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 , the receptionrecess 117 may include an inner surface supporting one surface of thesensing magnet 190 and an adhesive groove 117 b depressed more inwardlythan the inner surface to a designated depth such that an adhesive agentis injected into the adhesive groove 117 b.

The inner surface is one surface located in the inward direction towardthe center of the bobbin 110 and, if the sensing magnet 190 has arectangular parallelepiped shape, the wide surface of the sensing magnet190 contacts or is loaded on the inner surface.

The adhesive groove 117 b may be formed by depressing a part of theinner surface in the inward direction toward the center of the bobbin110. The adhesive groove 117 b may be formed from the opening 119 to oneinner surface of the bobbin 110 contacting one surface of the sensingmagnet 190.

As exemplarily shown in FIG. 17 , the adhesive groove 117 b may includea first additional groove 117 c formed to have a greater length than thelength of the sensing magnet 190 in the thickness direction of thebobbin 110. That is, the first additional groove 117 c is an extensionpart of the adhesive groove 117 depressed more than one inner surface ofthe bobbin 110 contacting the other surface of the sensing magnet 190.By forming the first additional groove 117 c, when the adhesive agent isinjected into the adhesive groove 117 b through the opening 119, theadhesive agent fills the inside of the adhesive groove 117 b startingfrom the first additional groove 117 c. Thereby, flow of the adhesivegroove 117 b to the coil 120 along a gap between the sensing magnet 190and the reception recess 117 due to overflow of the adhesive agent fromthe adhesive groove 117 b may be prevented and thus, an error generationrate of the lens moving apparatus 100 during a process of combining thesensing magnet 190 with the bobbin 110 may be reduced.

Further, the adhesive groove 117 b may further include a secondadditional groove 117 a formed to a designated depth in the inwarddirection from the opening 119 toward the center of the bobbin 110. Thatis, the second additional groove 117 a may be formed around the opening119 more deeply than the inner surface in the inward direction towardthe center of the bobbin 110. The second additional groove 117 acommunicates with the adhesive groove 117 b. That is, the secondadditional groove 117 a is an extension part of the adhesive groove 117b. By forming the second additional groove 117 a, the adhesive agent maybe injected into the adhesive groove 117 b through the second additionalgroove 117 a. Thereby, adhesion of the adhesive agent to other elementsof the bobbin 110, such as the coil 120, due to overflow of the adhesiveagent around the opening 119 may be prevented and thus, an errorgeneration rate of the lens moving apparatus 100 during a process ofcombining the sensing magnet 190 with the bobbin 110 may be reduced.

Further, in accordance with a modified embodiment, the second additionalgroove 117 a may be provided directly on the bobbin 110 without theadhesive groove 117 b. In this case, the sensing magnet 190 may becombined with and fixed to the bobbin 110 by injecting the adhesiveagent into the second additional groove 117 a.

The adhesive groove 117 b may include at least one of the firstadditional groove 117 c and the second additional groove 117 a. That is,the adhesive groove 117 b may include only the first additional groove117 c or include only the second additional groove 117 a.

In accordance with another modified embodiment, a depth between theinner surface of the reception recess 117 supporting one surface (i.e.,the wide surface) of the sensing magnet 190 and the outer surface of thebobbin 110 having the coil 120 (i.e., the surface of the coil loadinggroove 116) may be less than the thickness of the sensing magnet 190.Thereby, the sensing magnet 190 may be fixed to the inside of thereception recess 117 by inward pressing force of the coil 120 due towinding of the coil 120. In this case, an adhesive agent does not needto be used.

In accordance with an additional embodiment, although not shown in thedrawings, the bobbin 110 may further an additional reception recess 117formed on the outer surface of the bobbin 110 at a position symmetricalto the reception recess 117 with respect to the center of the bobbin110, and a weight balance member received in the additional receptionrecess 117.

That is, the additional reception recess 117 may be formed to adesignated depth in the inward direction of the bobbin 110 on the outersurface of the bobbin 110 at a position symmetrical to the receptionrecess 117 on a straight line with respect to the center of the bobbin110. Further, the weight balance member is fixed to and combined withthe inside of the additional reception recess 117 and has the sameweight as the sensing magnet 190.

By providing the additional reception recess 117 and the weight balancemember, the weight balance member may compensate for weight unbalance ofthe bobbin 110 in the horizontal direction caused by the receptionrecess 117 and the sensing magnet 190.

The additional reception recess 117 may include at least one of anadhesive groove 117 b, a first additional groove 117 c, and a secondadditional groove 117 a.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a position sensor 180 in a mounted statein accordance with another embodiment. In accordance with thisembodiment, the position sensor 180 may be provided on the inner surfaceof the cover member 300.

With reference to FIG. 18 , if the position sensor 180 is disposed onthe inner surface of the cover member 300, the lower end of the positionsensor 180 is connected to the printed circuit board 170 so as tocommunicate with the printed circuit board 170 and may thus receivepower supplied from the printed circuit board 170.

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating magnetic bodies in a mounted state inaccordance with one embodiment. In this embodiment, the lens movingapparatus 100 may further include magnetic bodies 500.

The magnetic bodies 500 may be mounted on the driving magnets 130, belocated between the driving magnets 130 and the coil 120, andsurface-contact the coil 120 and thus provide frictional force tomovement of the bobbin 110 and the coil 120.

The magnetic bodies 500 may be formed of a metal, such as an iron plate,so as to be attached to the driving magnets 130 by magnetic force, andsupport separation spaces between the coil 120 and the driving magnets130 to reduce a pose difference (shaking of the bobbin 110) caused bychange of the position of the lens moving apparatus 100. Therefore, twoor more magnetic bodies 500 may be mounted on the inner surfaces of thedriving magnets 130 so as to be opposite each other.

Therefore, the magnetic bodies 500 reduce a pose difference of the lensmoving apparatus 100 and do not require the lens unit to continuouslyapply power to the coil 120 to maintain a specific position. Further,since the magnetic bodies 500 perform the function of an elastic unit,the lens moving apparatus 100 may be operated without a separate elasticunit, such as the upper and lower elastic members 150 and 160,miniaturization of the lens moving apparatus 100 in the first directionand effective utilization of the inner space of the lens movingapparatus 100 may be achieved.

Therefore, the lens moving apparatus 100 in accordance with thisembodiment includes the magnetic bodies 500 and thus exhibits preventionof eccentricity of the bobbin 110 and the function of the upper andlower elastic members 150 and 160, thus having improved reliability.

As described above, the lens moving apparatus 100 in accordance withthis embodiment may readjust the position of a lens in the optical axisdirection through feedback of the displacement of the lens in theoptical axis direction and thus shorten a focus alignment time of thelens.

Further, the lens moving apparatus 100 in accordance with thisembodiment may minimize an interval between the sensing magnet providedon a movable body, i.e., the bobbin, and the position sensor provided ona fixed body, i.e., the housing, more accurately sense the displacementof the lens in the optical axis direction, and thus more accurately andrapidly locate the lens at the focal distance of the lens.

Further, the lens moving apparatus 100 in accordance with thisembodiment locates the sensing magnet in the bobbin and locates theposition sensor in the housing and does not require a separate space formounting of the sensing unit, thus improving space utilization of thecamera module (particularly, the bobbin).

Further, the lens moving apparatus 100 in accordance with thisembodiment may include the lens combined with the lens moving apparatus100, provide the camera module disposed thereunder and including theimage sensor and the printed circuit board on which the image sensor isdisposed, and combine the base of the lens moving apparatus with theprinted circuit board.

Further, the camera module may further include the camera modulecontroller and the camera module controller may compare a firstdisplacement value, calculated based on the current change value sensedby the sensing unit, with the focal distance of the lens according tothe distance between a subject and the lens. Thereafter, the cameramodule controller, if the first displacement value or the currentposition of the lens does not correspond to the focal distance of thelens, readjusts an amount of current applied to the coil 120 of thebobbin 110 and may thus move the bobbin 110 by a second displacement inthe first direction. Further, in the sensing unit, the position sensor180 fixed to a fixed body, i.e., the housing 140, may sense change ofmagnetic force emitted from the sensing magnet 190 according to movementof the sensing magnet 190 fixed to a movable body, i.e., the bobbin 110,a separate driver IC or the camera module controller may calculate orjudge the current position or the first displacement of the bobbin 110based on change of current output based on the sensed change of magneticforce, the current position or the first displacement of the bobbin 110,calculated or judged by the sensing unit, is transmitted to thecontroller of the printed circuit board 170, and the controller mayredetermine the position of the bobbin 110 for auto-focusing and thusadjust an amount of current applied to the coil 120.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 20 is a schematic side view of a lens moving apparatus inaccordance with another embodiment. With reference to FIG. 20 , in thelens moving apparatus in accordance with this embodiment, instead ofdriving magnets 130 having a comparatively high weight, a coil 120 iswound on a bobbin 110 fixing a lens unit 10, a sensing magnet 190 ismounted on the bobbin 110, and a position sensor 180 performs accurateand rapid feedback so as to adjust a focus.

Further, the lens moving apparatus in accordance with this embodimentincludes magnetic bodies 500 and thus exhibits prevention ofeccentricity of a movable element 100 and the function of an elasticunit, thus having improved reliability. Hereinafter, this embodimentwill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the lens moving apparatus in accordancewith the embodiment, FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the lens movingapparatus of FIG. 20 , from which a yoke unit 320 is removed, FIG. 23 isan exploded perspective view of the lens moving apparatus in accordancewith the embodiment, and FIG. 24 is a view illustrating a cover member300 in accordance with the embodiment, as seen from the bottom. Withreference to FIGS. 21 to 24 , the lens moving apparatus in accordancewith this embodiment may include a movable element 100 and a covermember 300.

The movable element 100 includes a bobbin 110 and a coil 120. The bobbin110 is combined with the lens unit 10 and thus fixes the lens unit 10.The lens unit 10 and the bobbin 110 may be combined through screwcombination using screw threads 111 respectively formed on the innersurface of the bobbin 110 and the outer surface of the lens unit 10, asexemplarily shown in FIG. 22 , or be combined using an adhesive agentwithout formation of screw threads. Of course, the bobbin 110 and thelens unit 10 may be more firmly combined using the adhesive agent afterscrew combination has been completed.

Further, guide parts 112 guiding winding or mounting of the coil 120,which will be described later, may be formed on the outer surface of thebobbin 110. The guide parts 112 may be formed integrally with the outersurface of the bobbin 110 and be formed continuously along the outersurface of the bobbin 110 or be formed so as to be separated bydesignated intervals.

Further, fastening protrusions 113 to which an upper elastic memberand/or a lower elastic member to support the bobbin 110 above the base210 are fastened may be formed on the upper surface and/or the lowersurface of the bobbin 110.

Further, a recess 114 to locate a yoke unit 320, which will be describedlater, between the bobbin 110 and the coil 210 wound on the bobbin 110may be formed on the outer surface of the bobbin 110.

The lens unit 10 may be a lens barrel but is not limited thereto. Thatis, the lens unit 10 may include any holder structure which may supportlenses. In this embodiment, a lens barrel will be exemplarily describedas the lens unit 10. The lens unit 10 is installed on a printed circuitboard (not shown), which will be described later, and is disposed at aposition corresponding to an image sensor. The lens unit 10 includes oneor more lenses (not shown).

The coil 120 may be guided by the guide parts 12 and wound on the outersurface of the bobbin 110, or four respective coils may be arranged atintervals of 90° on the outer surface of the bobbin 110. The coil 120may receive power supplied from the printed circuit board, which will bedescribed later, and form an electromagnetic field.

The cover member 300 may include the driving magnets 130, the yoke unit320, and the base 210.

The driving magnets 130 may be mounted on the yoke unit 320 so as to bedisposed at positions corresponding to the outer surface of the coil120. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 22 , the driving magnets 130 may bemounted at four corners of the inside of the yoke unit 320 at the sameinterval and thus facilitate effective utilization of the inner volumeof the yoke unit 320.

Although the driving magnets 130 may have a triangular prism shape, theinner surface of which is curved, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 22 , thedriving magnets 130 may have a prism shape, such as a rectangular prismor a trapezoidal prism, according to inner structural change.

The yoke unit 320 forms the external appearance of the lens movingapparatus, an opening having a greater diameter than the diameter of thebobbin 110 is formed on the upper surface of the yoke unit 320, and thelower surface of the yoke unit 320 is opened. Here, magnet fixing parts322 bent in the downward direction to fix the driving magnets 130 may beformed at the opening, and a terminal groove 323 corresponding to aterminal part 182 of a position sensor 180, which will be describedlater, may be formed on the end of a side surface of the yoke unit 320so as to expose the terminal part 182 to the outside.

Such a yoke unit 320 receives an elastic unit, which will be describedlater, the movable element 100 and the cover member 200 and is mountedon the base 210, thus forming the external appearance of a cameramodule. In more detail, the yoke unit 320 is mounted on the base 210such that the inner surface of the yoke unit 320 is adhered to the sidesurface of the base 210, which will be described later, and has both afunction of protecting inner components of the camera module and afunction of preventing external contaminants from being introduced intothe camera module.

Further, the yoke unit 320 needs to perform a function of protecting thecomponents of the camera module from interference with external wavesgenerated from a cellular phone. Therefore, the yoke unit 320 may beimplemented as a cover can formed of a metal.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, the yoke unit 320 includesat least one extended fastening piece on each surface of the lower endthereof and the base 210 includes fastening recesses into which thefastening pieces are inserted and thus, firm sealing and fasteningeffects of the camera module may be achieved.

The base 320 may be disposed at the lower portion of the lens movingapparatus so as to support the yoke unit 320 and the movable element100.

In more detail, the base 210 supports the cover member 300 and themovable element 100, a recess 211 having a circular shape and depresseddownwards is formed at the center of the base 210 so that bobbin 110 maybe located in the recess 211, a loading groove 211 a to load theposition sensor 180, which will be described alter, is formed at theside of the recess 211, and a through hole 211 b corresponding to thelens unit 110 may be formed at the center of the base 210.

The base 210 may perform the function of a sensor holder protecting aimage sensor (not shown), which will be described later, and the throughhole 211 b may be provided to locate a filter (not shown). In this case,the filter may be an infrared filter. Further, the filter may be formedof a film or glass. The filter may be formed by applying an IR cut-offcoating material to a flat panel type optical filter, such as a coverglass for protecting a photographing surface. Further, in addition tothe base 210, a separate sensor holder may be additionally located underthe base 210.

One or more fixing protrusions 212 surface-contacting or combined withthe inner surface of the yoke unit 320 may be formed at corners of theupper surface of the base 210. The fixing protrusions 212 may performguiding of the yoke unit 320 and firm fixing of the yoke unit 320 afterguiding.

Further, fastening protrusions 213 to which a lower elastic member,which will be described later, is fastened may be formed on the uppersurface 210.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, the fastening recesses intowhich the fastening pieces of the yoke unit 320 are inserted may beformed on the base 210. Such fastening recesses may be formed in a shapecorresponding to the length of the fastening pieces. The fasteningrecesses may be formed locally on the outer surface of the base 210, orbe formed throughout the outer surface of the base 210 so that adesignated part of the lower end of the cover can including thefastening pieces may be inserted thereinto.

The lens moving apparatus in accordance with this embodiment includesthe sensing magnet 190 and the position sensor 180 and may thus detectposition information of the movable element 100 and perform feedback ofthe position information, thereby more rapidly and accurately achievinglens movement.

The sensing magnet 190 may be provided at one side of the bobbin 110.Here, one side means a part of the side surface of the bobbin 110, andthe sensing magnet 190 may be inserted into the lower portion of theside surface of the bobbin 110, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 20 , or bemounted in a recess formed at the upper region, the lower region, or thecenter of the bobbin 110.

The sensing magnet 190 may be formed in a size which does not influencethe magnetic flux density of the driving magnets 130 corresponding toelectromagnetic force driving the coil 120 so as not to influence thefunctions of the movable element 100. Therefore, the sensing magnet 190may be a magnet for Hall sensors or a subsidiary magnet having a smallersize than the driving magnets 130. Such a size of the sensing magnet 190may be ⅕ the size of the driving magnets 130. However, since the sensingmagnet 190 may be formed in a size which does not influence magneticforce of the driving magnets 130, the sensing magnet 190 may be formedin a size less than or more than ⅕ the size of the driving magnets 130.

In this embodiment, since the sensing magnet 190 is provided and thus,instead of the driving magnets 130, the coil 120 may be disposed on themovable element 100, the movable element 100 may be lightweight. Such amovable element 100 may reduce eccentricity of the lens unit 10 even ifa user locates the camera module at any position, and the lens movingapparatus may achieve more free inner structure utilization than aconventional lens moving apparatus through rapid and precise control ofthe lightweight movable element 100 and the arrangement structure of theposition sensor 180.

The position sensor 180 is provided to sense movement of the sensingmagnet 190 and to precisely control the movable element 100, and atleast one position sensor 180 may be provided.

The position sensor 180 may be located closer to the coil than thesensing magnets 190. When taking into consideration that the intensityof a magnetic field formed by a magnet is several hundreds times theintensity of an electromagnetic field formed by a coil, influence of thecoil 120 is not considered in sensing of movement of the sensing magnet190.

The position sensor 180 may be disposed so as to correspond to thesensing magnet 190. The position sensor 180 may be disposed under thesensing magnet 190, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 20 , or be disposedoutside the sensing magnet 190, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 21 or 24 .

In the case of the former, the position sensor 180 may be loaded in theloading groove 211 a of the recess 211 formed on the base 210, asexemplarily shown in FIG. 23 . In the case of the latter, the positionsensor 180 may be provided on the inner surface of the yoke unit 320, asexemplarily shown in FIGS. 21 and 24 .

The position sensor 180 may include a Hall sensor 181 disposed so as tocorrespond to the sensing magnet 190 and the terminal part 182electrically connected to the Hall sensor 181 and receiving powersupplied from the outside. With reference to FIG. 24 , if the positionsensor 180 is disposed on the side surface of the yoke unit 320, theterminal part 182 may be exposed from the terminal groove 323 formed onthe end of the side surface of the yoke unit 320 and receive externalpower from the printed circuit board (not shown). Further, asexemplarily shown in FIG. 20 , if the position sensor 180 is disposed onthe upper surface of the base 210, the terminal part 182 may be mountedon a separate flexible printed circuit board (FPCB; not shown) on thebase 210 and receive power from the FPCB.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, the lens moving apparatusin accordance with this embodiment may further include an elastic unit.The elastic unit includes an upper elastic member and a lower elasticmember.

Although each of the upper elastic member and the lower elastic membermay include separate elastic members disposed on respective sides of thehousing, each of the upper elastic member and the lower elastic membermay be formed of a single plate which is bent and cut, for efficiency ofmanufacture.

The upper elastic member is fastened to the upper surface of the yokeunit 320 and the upper surface of the bobbin 110 and supports the bobbin110. In order to provide restoring force to the bobbin 110 when thebobbin 110 moves upwards, the upper elastic member is provided at theupper end of the yoke unit 320. In more detail, the upper elastic memberis disposed at the upper end of the yoke unit 320, protrudes from theopening formed at the upper end of the yoke unit 320 in the inwarddirection to have a designated area, and the protruding part of theupper elastic member supports the upper end of the bobbin 110.

Since the yoke unit 320 may be formed of a metal, an insulating plate324 formed of an insulating material may be provided between the yokeunit 320 and the upper elastic member. Further, a lid 325 formed in ashape corresponding to the upper surface of the yoke unit 320 may bemounted on the upper end of the upper elastic member.

Corresponding holes are formed on the lid 325, the upper elastic member,the insulating plate 324, and the upper surface of the yoke unit 320 andthus, the lid 325, the upper elastic member, the insulating plate 324,and the yoke unit 320 may be fastened using an adhesive agent applied tothe holes.

The edge of the lower elastic member is supported by the upper surfaceof the base 210, and the inner circumferential part of the lower elasticmember supports the lower end of the bobbin 110. In more detail, thelower elastic member may include two corresponding plate springs, andthe plate springs may be electrically connected to one end and the otherend of the coil 120 wound on the bobbin 110 and thus transmit power tothe coil 120. That is, the lower elastic member may include separateplate springs for input and output of power that are symmetrical withrespect to the optical axis. Of course, the upper elastic member may beformed in the same manner as the lower elastic member.

The lens moving apparatus in accordance with this embodiment may furtherinclude magnetic bodies 500. The magnetic bodies 500 may be mounted onthe driving magnets 130, be located between the driving magnets 130 andthe coil 120, and surface-contact the coil 120 and thus providefrictional force to movement of the movable element 100.

The magnetic bodies 500 may be formed of a metal, such as an iron plate,so as to be attached to the driving magnets 130 by magnetic force, andsupport separation spaces between the coil 120 and the driving magnets130 to reduce a pose difference (shaking of the movable element 100)caused by change of the position of the lens moving apparatus 100.Therefore, two or more magnetic bodies 500 may be mounted on the innersurfaces of the driving magnets 130 so as to be opposite each other.

Therefore, the magnetic bodies 500 reduce a pose difference of the lensmoving apparatus and do not require the lens unit 10 to continuouslyapply power to the coil 120 to maintain a specific position. Further,since the magnetic bodies 500 perform the function of an elastic unit,the lens moving apparatus may be operated without a separate elasticunit and thus, miniaturization of the lens moving apparatus in theoptical axis direction and effective utilization of the inner space ofthe lens moving apparatus may be achieved.

The lens moving apparatus in accordance with this embodiment may bemounted on a camera module, and such a camera module may be provided invarious kinds of multimedia apparatuses, such as a cellular phone, anotebook personal computer, a camera phone, a PDA, a smartphone, and atoy, and further in image input apparatuses, such as a CCTV camera andan information terminal of a video tape recorder.

For example, if the lens moving apparatus in accordance with thisembodiment may be provided in a camera module, the camera module mayfurther include a printed circuit board (not shown) and an image sensor(not shown).

The image sensor (not shown) may be mounted at the center of the uppersurface of the printed circuit board, and various elements (not shown)to drive the camera module may be mounted on the printed circuit board.Further, in order to apply power to drive the lens moving apparatus inaccordance with this embodiment, the printed circuit board may beelectrically connected to the terminal part 182, the lower elasticmember or the upper elastic member, or be electrically connecteddirectly to the coil 120.

The image sensor (not shown) may be mounted at the center of the uppersurface of the printed circuit board so as to be located in the opticalaxis direction together with one or more lenses (not shown) received inthe lens unit 10. Such an image sensor converts an optical signal of atarget object, incident through the lenses, into an electrical signal.

The above-described adhesive agent may be implemented as thermosettingepoxy or UV epoxy and be cured by heat or exposure to UV light. Ifthermosetting epoxy is used, the adhesive agent is moved to an oven andis cured by applying heat directly thereto and, if UV epoxy is used, theadhesive agent is cured by applying UV light thereto.

Further, the adhesive agent may be epoxy in which heat curing and UVlight curing may be mixed. That is, the adhesive agent may be epoxy inwhich both heat curing and UV light curing are possible and one of thesemethods is selected. The adhesive agent is not limited to epoxy and mayemploy any adhesive material.

As is apparent from the above description, a lens moving apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment may readjust the position of a lens inthe optical axis direction through feedback of the displacement of thelens in the optical axis direction and thus shorten a focus alignmenttime of the lens.

Further, the lens moving apparatus in accordance with the embodiment mayminimize an interval between a sensing magnet provided on a movablebody, i.e., a bobbin, and a position sensor provided on a fixed body,i.e., a housing, more accurately sense the displacement of the lens inthe optical axis direction, and thus more accurately and rapidly locatethe lens at the focal distance of the lens.

Further, the lens moving apparatus in accordance with the embodimentlocates the sensing magnet in the bobbin or on the inner surface of acover member and locates the position sensor in the housing, and doesnot require a separate space for mounting of a sensing unit, thusimproving space utilization of a camera module (particularly, thebobbin).

Further, the lens moving apparatus in accordance with the embodimentincludes the sensing magnet and may thus minimize lowering ofperformance of the bobbin due to movement, and reduces a limit indisposition of the position sensor and may thus achieve effective focuscorrection.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lens moving apparatus, comprising: a housing; abobbin disposed in the housing; a coil disposed on the bobbin; a drivingmagnet overlapped with the coil in a first direction perpendicular to anoptical axis direction; a sensing magnet coupled to the bobbin; and aposition sensor overlapped with the sensing magnet in a second directionperpendicular to both the optical axis direction and the firstdirection, wherein the bobbin comprises a recess on an outer surface ofthe bobbin, wherein at least a part of the sensing magnet is disposed inthe recess, and wherein a part of the coil is disposed between thesensing magnet and the position sensor in the second direction.
 2. Thelens moving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recess comprises anopening in the optical axis direction, and wherein the sensing magnet isdisposed between the bobbin and the coil in the second direction.
 3. Thelens moving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bobbin comprises anadditional recess on the outer surface of the bobbin at a positionopposite to the recess.
 4. The lens moving apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe driving magnet comprises a first magnet and a second magnetoverlapped with the first magnet in the first direction.
 5. The lensmoving apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensing magnet is notoverlapped with the first magnet and the second magnet of the drivingmagnet in the second direction.
 6. The lens moving apparatus of claim 1,wherein the position sensor is disposed on another side of the housingthan a side on which the driving magnet is disposed.
 7. The lens movingapparatus of claim 1, comprising a first printed circuit board, a baseand a cover member coupled with the base, wherein the housing isdisposed in the cover member, and wherein the position sensor isdisposed on the first printed circuit board.
 8. The lens movingapparatus of claim 7, wherein the first printed circuit board isdisposed on the housing.
 9. The lens moving apparatus of claim 7,wherein the first printed circuit board comprises a plurality ofterminals configured to be connected to an external power source, andwherein the plurality of terminals is disposed at one side surface ofthe base.
 10. The lens moving apparatus of claim 3, comprising a weightbalance member disposed in the additional recess.
 11. The lens movingapparatus of claim 7, wherein the position sensor is disposed in thecover member.
 12. The lens moving apparatus of claim 7, wherein at leasta part of the first printed circuit board is disposed between the covermember and the bobbin.
 13. The lens moving apparatus of claim 1,comprising an adhesive fixing the sensing magnet to the bobbin, whereinthe sensing magnet is overlapped with the coil in the second direction.14. The lens moving apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adhesive isdisposed in the recess.
 15. The lens moving apparatus of claim 1,wherein the coil is wound on the bobbin.
 16. A camera apparatus,comprising: a second printed circuit board; an image sensor disposed onthe second printed circuit board; the lens moving apparatus of claim 1;and a lens coupled to the bobbin of the lens moving apparatus.
 17. Asmartphone comprising the camera apparatus of claim
 16. 18. A lensmoving apparatus, comprising: a housing; a bobbin disposed in thehousing and comprising a recess; a coil disposed on the bobbin; adriving magnet disposed on the housing and overlapped with the coil in afirst direction perpendicular to an optical axis; a sensing magnetcoupled to the bobbin; and a position sensor disposed on a board,wherein at least a part of the sensing magnet is disposed in the recessof the bobbin, wherein the sensing magnet is overlapped with the coiland the position sensor in a second direction perpendicular to both theoptical axis and the first direction, and wherein the sensing magnet isnot overlapped with the driving magnet in the second direction.
 19. Acamera apparatus, comprising: the lens moving apparatus of claim 18; alens assembly coupled to the bobbin of the lens moving apparatus; and animage sensor overlapped with the lens assembly in the optical axis,wherein the coil is overlapped with the sensing magnet and the recess inthe second direction.
 20. The camera apparatus of claim 19, wherein thedriving magnet is not overlapped with the coil in the second direction.